Holiday In Helsinki

Helsinki boasts more than 42 different ethnic cuisines to choose from, so come dinner time, if you're not in the mood for bear, elk or reindeer (traditional Finnish food), you have plenty of other options.

For great ambiance and delicious food try Raffaello Caf, an Italian restaurant located on one of the major shopping streets in the city center (at Aleksanterinkatu 46). Raffaello Caf has a warm, outdoor courtyard terrace, perfect for warm summer nights. Main courses range from $14 to $25 and include Italian-style pizzas, steak wrapped in Parma ham and grilled pheasant breast (their specialty).

uniq's arctic icebar

After dinner, do what the Finns do best: drink. You won't have trouble finding a watering hole in Helsinki, as drinking is one of the country's famous pastimes. Since bars and nightclubs are open until 3 or 4 a.m., you'll have plenty of time to drink before the sun comes up.

With belly full, move on to chill out at one of Helsinki's newest hotspots: the Arctic Icebar, located inside the nightclub UNIQ. The Arctic Icebar, as you may have guessed, is made of eight-inch thick ice blocks and is "chilled" to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Upon entry, guests receive warm clothing and a complimentary Finlandia vodka cocktail. Entry is around $12 and the bar is open daily from 5 in the evening.

Day 2: Helsinki high culture

Although you're probably nursing a hangover from downing one too many vodka cocktails the night before, you must take some time to explore some of Helsinki's cultural attractions. Grab a bite for breakfast at the Hotel Strand's seafront Restaurant Bridges, then head out!

The compactness of Helsinki's city center makes it easy to travel to all the major sights by foot or bike. You can rent bikes through Helsinki's City Bikes program for free, with a refundable deposit of around $3. Here are some of the must-sees:

Kauppatori, Helsinki's famous fish market, is located in the city's market square, and it's a great place to enjoy both people and fish-watching. The square provides a lively and colorful scene, where you're sure to get a feel for authentic Finnish culture.

The Ateneum Art Museum hosts exhibitions of Finnish art from the mid 1700s to the 1960s. The gallery's international pieces include famous works by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne.

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art is considered to be a controversial — and thus fairly interesting — museum, designed by world-famous architect Steven Holl. On display are media art, film, music, and installations from the 1960s to the present.

After you've had your fill of museums, it's time to check out Helsinki's rougher cultural side: namely, the city's rockin' music scene. Whether you're at one of its many music festivals or viewing a live show in a bar or nightclub, you're sure to enjoy what you hear. To sample some of what the city has to offer, visit Viiskulma, a street dotted with hip music shops. Each store offers a diverse collection of new and used CDs and vinyl, in genres like reggae, soul, hip-hop, rock, and more.

sweat it out in a sauna

No trip to Helsinki would be complete without a sauna experience. It is estimated that there is approximately one sauna for every three people in Finland, and many locals even have saunas in their homes!

If you did end up staying at the Hilton Helsinki Strand, you'll have noticed that there are saunas there — and rooftop ones, at that. Nonetheless, to get the full authentic experience, it's worth checking out one of the many public saunas in town. The Kotiharjun sauna, located at Harjutorinkatu, was recently voted Helsinki's best facility. The sauna is gender segregated, wood-fired, clean, and relatively inexpensive (entry will cost you around $8).

Although most saunas provide a towel service, it's usually better if you bring your own (especially if you want a towel large enough to wrap around your body).

Normal sauna etiquette dictates that you take a shower before entering the hot room. You'll likely want to bring a towel in to sit on or wrap around your waist (if you're modest), although many locals enjoy taking their sauna naked. When you leave the sauna, either sit outside, or take a swim or a shower to bring your body temperature back to normal. Feel free to enter and exit the sauna as many times as you like, as your paid admission permits you multiple stays in the hot room.